Under their banner Forward with Scotland’s Past, Battlefield Band have been performing on the international scene for more than three decades, inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength of the modern Scottish cultural scene. The band, who pioneered the integration of bagpipes with fiddle, keyboards, guitar and voice, mix the old songs and tunes with new self-penned material, playing them on a unique fusion of ancient and modern instruments: bagpipes, synthesizers, fiddles, guitars, cittern, bass, whistles, and bouzouki.

Founded by a group of friends in 1969 and named after the ‘Battlefield’ area of Glasgow, Battlefield Band now perform throughout the world, playing to audiences in Europe, Australia, Asia, the Middle East & Canada, as well as more than 60 cities annually in the United States. Their music is played regularly on National Public Radio’s Thistle and Shamrock program, and they are frequent guests on Minnesota Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion.

In September 13th 2003, Battlefield Band were awarded Best Live Act at the first annual Scots Trad Music Awards. The awards celebrate Scotland’s thriving traditional musical scene; the nominees chosen by a panel of Scotland’s traditional music experts, and the winners chosen by popular public vote via post and email to the BBC, with voting open to audiences around the world. Still leading the way after 30 years!

This is the band that others measure themselves against. Over the years new members have brought with them new ideas, new music, new instruments, attitudes and influences, leading to continued creativity, freshness and enthusiasm. After 30 years they still lead the way for Scottish music, always involving their ever widening audience as they travel the world.